This chapter critically examines the evolution and implications of the EU-facilitated dialogue for normalization between Kosovo and Serbia. Initially conceived to resolve post-independence tensions, this dialogue has primarily become a tool for managing pressures—albeit its success in some aspects—focusing on stability, appeasement, and the appearance of progress rather than achieving the comprehensive normalization suggested by its name. The chapter illustrates how the normalization dialogue has allowed Serbia to present itself as cooperative without officially recognizing Kosovo, while providing Kosovo with partial, often unequal gains. The EU's role as a mediator has been influenced by internal divisions, institutional ambivalence, and geopolitical calculations, which have limited its ability to drive transformative outcomes. Additionally, the chapter emphasizes the importance of personal leadership and the limitations of status-neutral facilitation in these discussions. It warns of the risks associated with normalization processes that lack clearly defined end goals. Based on this analysis, it argues that for normalization to function as a credible framework for peacebuilding, it must go beyond vague technicalities and strive for principled, enforceable solutions. The dialogue's trajectory offers broader lessons for international mediation in prolonged statehood disputes, emphasizing the necessity of consistency, legitimacy, and accountability to the affected populations.